West Bowling pulled off arguably the National Conference League performance of the weekend as they edged out Division One leaders Saddleworth 25-24.

Second-bottom Bowling provided themselves with a survival lifeline as they shocked the visitors at Bankfoot Oval.

The hosts were fastest out of the blocks and raced into a 10-0 lead inside the opening ten minutes.

Winger Damian Smith was the first to cross and he was followed over by Matthew Wolski, Jake Galtress adding a conversion.

Saddleworth hit back to send the sides in level at the interval but Bowling struck first in the second half through full back James Dewhirst and forward Sha Basha also found his way to the line.

The visitors continually pegged the home side back and, with minutes remaining, held a 22-24 lead.

But then up stepped scrum half Steve Illingworth to first post a drop goal and then, with the last kick of the game, send a penalty sailing high over the uprights for a memorable victory.

Meanwhile, Dudley Hill took advantage of Thatto Heath’s defeat at Castleford Panthers to take joint-second spot.

Hill battled hard all afternoon and were good value for their 14-11 victory at Milford Marlins.

Defeat looked on the cards as they entered the final moments of the match in arrears but half back Danny Thomas grabbed the glory as he pounced on a drop ball close to the Milford line to score.

The Bradford side had hooker Nathan Kitson and winger Neil Wall to thank for earlier tries as Hill nudged closer to their promotion dream.